Anh 'Joseph' Cao and Cedric Richmond debate 2nd District needs

Facing each other for just the second time in the run-up to the Nov. 2 general election, the two best-known candidates in the race for the 2nd Congressional District seat sparred Wednesday evening over who better understands residents' needs.

U.S. Rep. Anh 'Joseph' Cao, left, is campaigning for re-election against state Rep. Cedric Richmond.

Though the question-and-answer format of the Alliance for Good Government forum at Loyola University left little room for interaction, state Rep. Cedric Richmond, the Democratic nominee, charged that incumbent Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao is out of touch with voters across the district, which covers most of New Orleans and a swath of Jefferson Parish.

"You just have to know the district and the needs of the district," Richmond said, noting that hurricane recovery money was tied up in an economic stimulus package that Cao opposed and that despite the district's majority of female voters, Cao didn't support an equal-pay measure.

Cao responding by ticking off the projects he has backed since winning the seat in 2008 -- even though less than 10 percent of the district's voters are registered Republicans -- from the Federal City development in Algiers to the expansion of the New Orleans streetcar line to creation of a biomedical corridor in the Central Business District.

He also claimed "a great working relationship" with President Barack Obama and said he only opposed administration initiatives when they weren't in the best interest of 2nd District residents.

"You have to have the courage to say, 'Mr. President. I love you. You're my president. But I cannot support you on this issue,'" Cao said, noting for instance that he could not support a cap-and-trade approach to controlling pollution because it would "devastate" the southeast Louisiana economy.

Joining Cao and Richmond on the dais were lawyer Ron Austin and minister Anthony Marquize, two of the three little-known independents who will appear on the November ballot. Jack Radosta did not attend.

Raising an issue that has percolated on local political blogs, the moderator asked the candidates about their affiliations with nonprofit agencies, including whether they have ever established, financed or received money from any tax-exempt organizations.

Richmond, whose connection with several youth charities has sparked questions, ticked off a laundry list: He said he founded Rebuilding Our Community and New Orleans Community Enhancements and secured financing for Friends of New Orleans Public Library, Crimestoppers and Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, among others.

"The list goes on and on. I just don't remember all the names," Richmond said, adding that he has taken "zero" dollars from any of the groups.

For his part, Cao, an attorney, said he established the Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corp. but didn't receive any money from it. Marquize said he's formed churches that have paid him a salary, while Austin answered no to both questions.

Responding to a question centered in the heated national debate about immigration policy, Richmond and Austin said the citizenship clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is "perfect" as written.

Richmond added that the federal government should protect its borders and create pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants while ensuring that undocumented workers don't "drive down the wage scale for other workers."

Cao said the two-thirds support of all states needed to overturn the amendment "would be a very difficult task." He said he support's Obama's push to strengthen border security and "compassionately enable families who have been here access to legalization."

Marquize, meanwhile, said the citizenship clause "was intended for people who were already here. It was not intended for people to illegally cross the border and have children here."